Although Kenya reopened its borders to international tourists in August, Sadie Whitelocks finds that lower hotel rates as a consequence of the pandemic have allowed more local people the chance to be tourists in their own country. I recently ventured to Kenya, after the nail-biting hurdle of getting a negative PCR test, and while there…
In an effort to fast-track global airline travel, Iata is developing a digital Travel Pass – essentially an international health passport – that will manage and verify the secure flow of necessary testing or vaccine information among governments, airlines, laboratories and travellers. “Our main priority is to get people travelling again safely. In the immediate…
Lufthansa and SWISS have announced additional services to Johannesburg from December.. “The Lufthansa Group has welcomed the recent announcement by the [SA] government to remove the list of high-risk countries and once again open our borders to all leisure and business travellers. “We are fully committed to the South African market and continue our efforts…
South African airline Comair said on Monday it had opened bookings for domestic British Airways flights ahead of a planned resumption of services from December 9. In September Comair, which operates British Airways and low-cost carrier kulula.com in South Africa but has been under business rescue, said it would hopefully begin flying again in December…
The Cape Milner in Tamboerskloof is reopening her doors from the 15th December 2020. Whilst the Cape Milner is usually a haven for international travellers from many countries around the globe – her history reminds us that she is a firm favourite with South African and African visitors as well. “The production industry love our…
For the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak began, Africa may be poised to reshape rapid testing for the virus on the continent. The Pasteur Institute, a biomedical research center based in Senegal’s capital city of Dakar, says it is close to producing an affordable, handheld Covid-19 diagnostic test kit that can give results in a…
Weeks after crowd-sourcing its name, South Africa’s LIFT Airline wants the public to help choose its livery too. The carrier will begin operations on December 10th, flying two routes from Johanessburg to Cape Town and George. Let’s find out what the airline is considering for its livery. Choose the livery LIFT made the news a…
South Africa’s privately-owned airline Airlink is ending its 23-year-old franchise agreement with South African Airways. The airline entered a strategic alliance with South African Airways in 1997. Today, the airline revealed its new stunning livery to match its rebranding. Airlink unveiled its new livery today as it breaks from South African Airways. Photo: Airlink A…
Thrill seeking guests at the Kruger Shalati Train on the Bridge hotel in South Africa will be pleased to hear they’ll be able to swim in a pool above a river filled with crocodiles The luxury hotel is perched on the 300-metre-long Selati bridge high above the Sabie river in South Africa’s Kruger National Park and is located within a…
South Africa reopened its borders to international travelers earlier this month, as travel leaders in a city on the country’s eastern coast argue tourism is crucial to delivering the country a full economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Durban — South Africa’s third-largest city — may not be as historically popular with tourists as Cape…
Plans for WTM Africa 2021 are going ahead in the format of a hybrid event from April 7-9, offering both virtual and live attendance. “We are delighted to be able to inform our industry partners that we will be going ahead with WTM Africa as a hybrid event, incorporating the best characteristics of a live…
CemAir has applied for a licence to operate scheduled flights between Johannesburg and Lagos, Luanda, Lusaka, Ndola, Lubumbashi, Dar es Salaam, Maputo and Accra. Currently, CemAir operates only domestic routes on a scheduled basis, although it has operated and continues to operate charter flights into Africa. The airline joins Airlink in expanding its network into…
South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced last night in his State of the Nation Address that the restrictions for travellers from ‘high risk’ countries, based on a previous risk strategy, will fall away and international travel will open to all countries. Key factors of the President’s speech include: All International travel will resume subject to…
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has approved lifting of international travel restrictions in a phased manner, starting from next week. Government spokesperson Andrew Sesinyi on Friday said air travel will resume on Nov. 9 at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, Kasane International Airport, and Maun International Airport before ground crossing resume on Dec. 1.…
The rule of six, mask wearing, even social distancing — the gorillas of Rwanda have seen it all. Because the 1,000 or so mountain gorillas are genetically so close to humans, they are also susceptible to Covid-19. The Rwandan government, which has done a commendable job preventing the spread of the disease among its 12…
For the second consecutive year, Seychelles receives the honor of being crowned Indian Ocean’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination for the 27th annual World Travel Awards. This year’s coronation propels once again, the archipelago of surreal natural beauty, to the pinnacles of the regional ecological spheres for 2020 against its island contenders Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius and Reunion Island.…
Twenty out of thirty-six international airlines that had suspended flights into Kenya due to the Covid-19 pandemic have resumed business since the August 1st, 2020 restart. Among the airlines that have resumed are Qatar Airways, Air France, Turkish Airlines, KLM Dutch Airlines, Air Arabia, British Airways, Fly Emirates, Lufthansa, Rwanda Air and Uganda Airlines, Precision…
Lufthansa will start the first test runs for comprehensive COVID-19 antigen rapid tests on selected flights between Munich and Hamburg on Thursday (November 12). The tests are run in close co-operation with Munich and Hamburg airports – as well as with the biotech companies Centogene and the Medicover Group’s medical care centre, MVZ Martinsried –…
Following Botswana’s opening of borders on Monday (November 9) for regional flights, Air Botswana has resumed flights to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport from Tuesday, November 10. Long-haul flights into the country remain suspended with the exception of charter flights. The carrier suspended flights in March due to the COVID pandemic. The airline will initially…
Giant squids are fantastical creatures that live in the crushing depths of the ocean and are rarely seen except in adventure books. But this winter in South Africa (which was summer in the United States), a baby giant squid washed up on a beach northwest of Cape Town. It lay there, its grey-pink tentacles spread…
Kenya has been ranked as Africa’s leading tourist destination in 2020 by the World Travel Awards (WTA). The country scooped the award for its “tantalising cocktail of epic savannah landscapes, immense herds of wildlife and palm-fringed beaches”. The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) won the Africa’s Leading Tourist Board award. Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Samburu National…
Delta has told Tourism Update it has once again had to delay the launch of its flights to South Africa due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jimmy Eichelgruen, Delta’s Director of Sales for Africa, Middle East and India, said the delay was a result of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions…
Zulu Rock Lodge, set to open this month, is the second accommodation offering in the new Babanango Game Reserve in the north of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The lodge offers views across the rolling hills of the reserve, which is home to a stretch of the White Umfolozi River and a wealth of wildlife species. With seven…
RwandAir will start flying to Cape Town via Harare from December 2. The Kigali-based airline suspended flights on March 20 when the Rwandan government closed airspace to combat the spread of COVID-19. A RwandAir spokesperson told Tourism Update: “Following the easing of travel restrictions, our three times a week service will resume, with flights operating on…
Extended stays, fewer stops, “travel bubbles” and upselling opportunities for travel consultants. These are just a few of the trends that experts predict for African safaris in the Covid-19 era. Craig Beal, owner Travel Beyond, said he received a lot of bookings for last-minute safaris. “All travelers so far have been blown away by how private the…
Kenya has been named Africa’s leading golfing destination at the seventh Annual World Golf Awards Gala Ceremony held in the United Arab Emirates. Kenya scooped the award ahead of South Africa, Egypt and Morocco with the trophy rewarding excellence in golf tourism, courses and golf destinations. At the same time, Karen Country Club was celebrated…
The Sogecoa Golden Peacock hotel officially opened on 23rd October, 2020 in Blantyre at a colorful event presided over by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera. Speaking at the event, the President emphasized that tourism is the critical driver of the economy in the New Malawi. In that regard,…
The Kenya Tourism Board has unveiled a new ‘Magical Kenya’ sub-brand targeting the Coast region. The new brand has seven unique sub-brands of its own themed around different areas at the Coast; including Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Tana River, Diani, Watamu and Tsavo. The introduction of the new brands was seen as a boost to the…
Botswana’s government has confirmed that private charter flights will be allowed into the country from November 1, but operators say more progress is needed. In an official announcement earlier this week, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism announced that private charter flights would be allowed to land at Maun and Kasane International…
Zimbabwe will reopen six land borders on December 1. Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa, said the opening of border posts would be phased in, beginning with Beitbridge, Plumtree, Victoria Falls, Chirundu, Nyamapanda and Forbes. “The borders will open first to private passenger vehicles and pedestrian traffic as from December 1, while further…
Air Namibia plans to resume flights to both Johannesburg and Cape Town from Wednesday, October 28. The Windhoek-Johannesburg direct route will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Currently, four flights a week are envisaged for the Windhoek-Cape Town route, two direct and two via Walvis Bay. The Namibian President called this year for the cash-strapped…
Zimbabwe and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, yesterday launched an initiative to boost tourism in and around Victoria Falls to help strengthen the country’s tourism industry that has suffered a sharp decline in visitors due to the devastating Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative, dubbed the “Victoria Falls Area Tourism…
Hyatt Hotels Corporation will open the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Cape Town in December 2020. The former Hilton Cape Town City Centre will be rebranded Hyatt Regency Cape Town, bringing the total number of Hyatt hotels across Africa to eight. “We’re delighted to work with Millat Properties to bring the Hyatt Regency brand to Cape…
Emirates and Airlink have announced an interline agreement, widening Emirates’ reach into Southern Africa as countries begin opening their borders for travellers. Emirates’ agreement with Airlink will provide its customers enhanced connectivity via its gateways Johannesburg and Cape Town to more than 25 domestic destinations in South Africa and more than 20 regional destinations in…
Uganda Airlines is on track to launch its new A330-800neo fleet by December – to be deployed on three long-haul routes to Asia, the UK and the Middle East. This follows the roll-out of the first of two A330s on Friday last week, with freshly painted livery. The airline – both a start-up and a…
Seychelles has opened its borders for tourism with two categories of permitted countries. Category 1 is for residents of countries that are deemed low or medium risk. These travellers will be required to produce a negative COVID PCR test no older than 72 hours before departure and will not be subject to quarantine or further conditions. South…
Qatar Airways has signed an interline agreement with Airlink that will provide its passengers with connectivity via Cape Town and Johannesburg to more than 20 regional destinations in Southern Africa and more than 25 domestic destinations within South Africa. “We are confident that the relationship will deliver enhanced travel options to customers, given the designed…
Migori Airstrip that connects the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is closed due to major renovations. The renovations are estimated to take 18 months with officials stating that the airstrip will be closed until the end of 2021. However, there is lobbying to fast track the process in order for…
South Africa is now putting the electrical plugs and sockets the nation has relied on for generations on the road to retirement. The plugs, which feature three large pins configured in a triangle, are giving way to a compact hexagonal three-pin design, with sockets following suit. The new plug and socket, which is based on the latest…
Slotted into the underbelly of Africa’s northwestern huddle, Ghana is a country that’s steadily reinventing itself. Known for its colorful culture, wildlife and natural beauty, the West African nation had one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest-growing economies in the past few years, thanks to cocoa and a relatively recent discovery of oil. The economic upturn helped…
Communities and conservancy groups in the Mara, northern and coastal regions will get Sh759.5 million from the US government to support recovery from a slump in tourism due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The funds will be granted by US Agency for International Development (USAID) through a three-year locally-led development programme, coordinated under its flagship Local…
The Department of Health has, with immediate effect, rolled out antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 at all ports of entry in South Africa with immediate effect. Media liaison for the Department, Dr Lwazi Manzi, pointed out that while this did not replace the required certified negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result (not older than 72 hours), this test…
The Uganda Minister Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA) Col. Tom Butime, unveiled eleven Uganda wildlife sculptures along the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters on Kira Road stretching for approximately 2 kilometers between Mulago Hospital roundabout and Kira Road Police Station in Kampala. Hosted by the Executive Director, Sam Mawanda, on behalf of sponsor Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the unveiling of…
With many source markets requiring a negative PCR test to enter the country, some lodges in Southern Africa have started offering on-site testing to spare travellers the hassle of having to travel away from their destination to get tested. While a number of private laboratories have testing facilities in the region, these are primarily located…
A 20-year-old elephant has been successfully translocated in KwaZulu Natal from Tembe Elephant Park to the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve in an effort to strengthen the elephant gene pool. The move was a collaboration between WILDLANDS – a programme of the WILDTRUST – the Aspinall Foundation in partnership with Albus Environmental, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and…
MINT Hotels has opened the first of two properties planned for Johannesburg. The first two phases of the MINT Hotel, located on Katherine Street in Sandton, have already opened and the third and final phase will open in November. On the opening of the third phase, the property will offer 148 apartment-style rooms, each equipped…
Ethiopian Airlines several weeks ago officially completed a 86,000-square-meter terminal expansion at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport. With the capacity to serve 22 million passengers a year, Africa’s main transit hub is now home to the continent’s second largest capacity airport after South Africa’s O.R. Tambo International. But this is no ordinary terminal project: the $300…
The Seychelles Department of Tourism has reviewed its Visitor Travel Advisory following a proposal from the Tourism Taskforce to provide potential visitors with clear information. The new advisory offers clarity on the countries from which visitors may visit the Seychelles. The countries have been divided into two categories. Category one includes low- and medium-risk countries and category…
Brussels Airlines has outlined plans to increase flights to African destinations over the coming months, as it looks to rebuild its network in the Covid-19 era. The carrier has long focused on its African network, and this winter 15 of its 16 planned long-haul routes will be to the continent, with the sole exception being…
Around the world, countries are steadily shifting from responding to the Covid-19 pandemic to the recovery phase. And for many, tourism will play a key role here, not least due to its importance in job creation, supporting livelihoods and driving inclusive development. But tourism itself has been hit hard by this unprecedented crisis. During the…